History Of The Sago Community

In writing up the history of Sago the author had to depend
largely on the notes of others. He endeavored to get data as
accurate as possible; but, doubtless, there are some minor errors
in the production. He is especially indebted to Rev. L. B. Moore,
Judge O. L. Moore, and A. J. Marple for notes on the early period
of Sago.--E. R. Grose

HISTORY OF THE SAGO COMMUNITY
Prepared By E. R. Grose
1926

Sago has a very picturesque location. It is situated along the
banks of a beautiful, clear, and swift running little river, called
the Buckhannon, whose course is hemmed in by the hills on either
side, and whose banks are lined, in many places, with the hemlock
and the rhododendron, our state flower. In winter those plants
often bend with masses of snow, and they, with the dashing waters
and broken pieces of ice rushing against the rocks, which lift
their heads above the waters, present a scene of beauty as fine as
may be found anywhere.

The county seat, called Buckhannon, is located six miles north
on the same river. Now, a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
runs southward, hugging closely the river bank; and also the Coal
and Coke, now a part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad System,
crosses the river from the east to the west, running from Elkins to
Charleston. These railroads are modern innovations.

The Morgan Family

In 1801 the first permanent settlement was made near where the
railroad bridge of the Coal and Coke crosses the river. The man who
made this settlement was Zedekiah Morgan, who, with his wife and
two grown daughters by a former wife (Ruth Dart) and a baby
(Theadore) left his comfortable home at Newtown, Connecticut, and
traveled by wagon and foot, through, what was then much of the way,
a wilderness and settled here in an unbroken forest. No neighbors
greeted these weary travelers on their arrival. The forest was,
with the exception of Indian trails, pathless. The home must be
carved out of the unbroken wilderness. To the east, some thirty
miles, the comparatively old settlement of Tygart's Valley could be
reached. Northward at Buckhannon and below a few scattered houses
could be found.

In a short time a home was established and land was cleared.
Other settlers soon came, and more homes were started.

Zedekiah Morgan was a thrifty man. In Connecticut he had been a
dealer in lands; and, in his new home, he provided himself with a
goodly scope of land and for his two sons, Joshua and Ezra, who,
with their families, followed him two years later to Virginia.

Ezra settled where Adrian is now situated. Some years later
Elbridge G. Burr married his daughter, Emily; and, after the death
of Ezra and his wife, the farm was known as the Burr farm. Another
daughter, Eliza, married Benjamin Gould of Bull Run; and a third,
Maria, married Jacob Hudkins of Barbour County.

Joshua settled where Ashley Morgan now resides, who is his
grandson. His children were Isaac, Chester, and Lydia. Isaac
married Mandana Gould and made his home on the home farm. Chester
married first a daughter of Ezekiel Townsend, then Nancy Talbott,
and for his third wife, Delilah Boyles. Lydia married Major Thorp,
who, with his family, later had much to do with the development of
Sago.

In a short time the two single daughters of Zedekiah Morgan were
sought and won by young men from the Tygart's Valley settlement.
One can imagine their coming for more than thirty miles through an
unbroken wilderness for the purpose of courting. Ruth married
George Weese, who lived below Beverly; Naomi married Adam Stonacre
of near Beverly, and, after his death, she married John Brooks, a
brother of Dr. Amos Brooks of French Creek. Their descendants are
the Kettles, Weeses, Stonacres (Stonakers), Bakers, and a good many
others of Randolph County. One of Naomi's grandsons, Mr. Eli Baker,
married two sisters from Upshur County. They were daughters of
William Sexton of Brushy Fork. After one was cut down by disease,
in due time he married the sister. From this union came Judge
Baker, of the U. S. Federal Court. Naomi, after her second
marriage, removed to the West.

The second set of children of Zedekiah Morgan by his second
wife, Rebecca Watson, were Theadore, Watson, Alfred, and Fanny.

Watson grew to manhood. He decided to attend school and went to
Beverly for this purpose, where he contracted fever and died.

Alfred was the first white child born at Sago, in the year of
1804. He remained on the old homestead all his life, dying during
the Civil War. He was united in marriage with Martha Henderson in
1836, who outlived him many years. Mrs. G. W. Burner was their only
child. Alfred and his wife were earnest Christians, and their
example had much to do in making the community noted for its
morality. They were constituent members of the Sago Baptist church,
which was formed some time in the fifties. Mr. G. W. Burner who had
married their only daughter bought the Bunten Mills and a farm one
mile north of the Morgan farm. Mrs. G. W. Burner died in the fall
of 1923. She was a lovable woman and was honored by all her
neighbors and her large family of sons, daughters, and
grandchildren. Her sons and daughters are noted for their useful
lives in the community.

Theadore married Lydia Rude in 1823 and settled on Slab Camp
where he reared a large family.

James Bunten

Fanny, the youngest of Zedekiah Morgan's children, married James
Bunten, in 1827, who was from the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack
County New Hampshire. Mr. Bunten came to Sago in 1825 or 26. He
bought a farm north of the Morgan farm and built mills for sawing
lumber and grinding grain. In connection with the gristmill he
installed simple machinery for carding wool. As late as 1900 many
of the older citizens still talked about their having gone to that
mill with grain and wool.

Sarah Ann Bunten married George Collins Moore of Morgantown in
1844. They settled on the opposite side of the river from the
Bunten farm. Here they reared a large family of much
distinction.

James Levin, the oldest child of this union, was born in 1845.
When the need was great for soldiers to defend the Union, he
volunteered in Company B of 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry
and served till the close of the Civil War. Some time after the
close of the war, he married Saida Cypert of Clarion County,
Pennsylvania. In partnership with his Uncle Watson Bunten, he
bought mill property at Crawford, Lewis County, where he reared a
large family and made a comfortable living. In his old age he sold
his property and went to Oregon and from there to California where
he died. His children are Ivy V., Myrtle L., Lilly R., Ralph G.,
Ried L., Zamie F., and Daisy May, all of whom were living at the
time of their father's death.

The second son, Lorenzo Byron, was born in May 1847. He entered
the Union army in 1862 and served three years and three months. He
was severely wounded on the day that Richmond was evacuated. He
came home on crutches in July 1865; attended school; worked as a
carpenter; taught school; served as County Superintendent of
Schools; studied at Brown University and in Crozer Theological
Seminary; entered the Baptist ministry in 1872; served as pastor
for twenty- seven years in West Virginia, Ohio Secretary for State
Missions in West Virginia for six years, and Secretary for the West
Virginia Baptist Education Society for nineteen years. He now lives
in Parkersburg. In 1872 he married Almira A. Brooks, daughter of
Dr. Amos Brooks of French Creek. She has shared with him for more
than fifty years in the labors, sorrows, and vicissitudes of a busy
life. Mrs. Moore died in the summer of 1924. Their children are
George Amos, Laura Blanche, Oscar Frank, and Dora. Three others
died during infancy. George Amos died in Minneapolis, Minn. when he
was forty years old. He was a successful teacher. At his death a
wife and two boys were left. Frank also lives in Minneapolis and
has a wife and two sons, James and Robert. Laura is a teacher in
the Parkersburg High School; and Dora is a librarian in the Ohio
Wesleyan College at Deleware, Ohio.

Oscar Leopold, the third son, was born in 1849. He entered the
Union army in 1864 in Company M of 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, and
took part in many battles in the Shenandoah Valley and at Richmond.
After the war he studied and taught. In 1874 he went to Abilene,
Kansas, where he studied law. He was elected as County Attorney in
1882; in 1895 he served as Regent of the State University; for
twelve years he served as Judge of the 8th Judicial District of
Kansas; and in 1911 he was appointed as Reporter of the supreme
court of Kansas, a position which he has held for many years, with
residence at Topeka. In l875 he married Miss Ida Wilson of Abilene,
Kansas.

Sarabel, a daughter, was born in 1854. She taught school. In
1878 she married Samuel Neely. To this union were born five.
children, Frances, Addie, Fred, Clyde, and Demosthenes. The father
was killed in a logging accident while the children were young; and
the mother had to labor hard to rear her children. She faithfully
and lovingly performed the hard task. She died at Buckhannon, at
the age of 67 years.

Ida May, another daughter, was born in 1857. She was a teacher
and was Postmistress at Sago for several years. She resided at
Sago, at her old home, taking care of her parents till l893 when
she died of fever at the age of 36 years.

The remaining children, Dora Ianthe, Burnham B., Clarence W.,
and Frances Jane, all died in October of 1865, of typhoid
dysentery.

Mr. Moore and Mrs. Moore lived to a ripe old age. Mr. Moore died
in the fall of 1895, and Mrs. Moore, several years later.

The Clark Brothers

Two brothers came to Sago and settled some time between 1820 and
1825. Their names were Cornelius and George Clark. They came from
Connecticut. They and their families added much to the history of
Sago.

Cornelius Clark, on leaving his native state, first settled in
Ohio, but later came to Sago and purchased land lying between the
Zedekiah Morgan and the James Bunten farms. He was somewhat
eccentric, but was an enterprising business man. He built a dam
across the river and constructed a mill on each side of the river,
one for grinding grain and manufacturing Castor and Linseed oils
and other products, and the other for sawing lumber. The Castor oil
was made from the Castor bean and was sold in the tablet form; and
the linseed oil was made from flaxseed and used for common
purposes. He also bored by the means of a wood drill a well 500
feet deep for salt water and, for a time, made salt at Sago. He
then opened a coal mine, so that he might obtain fuel for his
furnace. People, for more than thirty miles, came on horseback to
buy this salt.

His wife, Abigail, was a very intelligent woman. Their children
were Lyman, Cornelius, James, Martha, Mary, and Lusannah. Mary
married Earl Young; Martha, Alonzo Young; and Cornelius, Lucinda
Young. Cornelius died before he reached the meridian of life. Lyman
was graduated at some college in the East. He became a Unitarian
preacher and was deemed a pastor of distinction in the state of
Massachusetts. Mr. Clark sold his farm to Mr. G. W. Burner soon
after Mr. Burner's marriage and removed his family to Illinois.
James and Lusannah settled and remained in Illinois.

A grandson of Cornelius Clark, born in Upshur County, George
Holly Young, was graduated from a college located at Springfield,
Illinois, and became a professor in the same institution. He was an
educator of some distinction.

George Clark, brother of Cornelius, located on the west side of
the bend of the river below the James Bunten farm. Afterwards he
built a house on the hill above the Bunten Mills. He was an
intelligent citizen. He cleared a large farm and worked very hard.
He was a magistrate for several years and was called by the
familiar name of Squire Clark. Reverend L. B. Moore went to school
to him one cold winter. He taught in the old schoolhouse near the
Clark Mills.

George Clark's children were George Henry, Albert, Ambrose,
Barnaby, Ellen E., and Adelaide. George H. and Ambrose (Bun) lived
to a good old age. Ellen married John L. Smith of Buckhannon.
Adelaide married for her first husband Alonzo Bunten, son of the
late Harriet Bunten of French Creek. Albert went West ; and common
report said that, while carrying the mail, he was killed by the
Indians in Utah.

For his first wife George Clark married in New England a Miss
Barnaby, who was the mother of all his children. After her death he
married Mary Ann Bunten, a niece of James Bunten, who had come from
New Hampshire to visit her uncle; and, perhaps, she was the best
informed lady in the community. As a teacher she was unexcelled.
She taught before the Civil War, the old-fashioned subscription
schools. When the Free Schools were adopted she was one of the
finest teachers in the state.

The Carter Family

About 1840 Henry T. Carter settled at Sago, first on the farm of
Alfred Morgan; and then he bought land a mile or two south and
reared a large family. He had come from Albemarle County, Virginia
and had married a Miss Emerson. He was one of the highly respected
citizens of the community. He was industrious, and noted for his
wonderful memory. For many years he was one of the deacons in the
Sago Baptist church. His children were John, Mary, Henry, Thomas
Addison, Mardonius, George, Page, Eliza, Lena, and Delia.

Of Henry T. Carter's children John became the most famous. He
was the most illustrious preacher that emigrated from Sago.
Perhaps, there was no more eloquent preacher in the state. After
preaching for a while among the surrounding Baptist churches, he
began, near the close of the Civil War, his noted pastorate of the
Parkersburg church, which lasted for twenty-five years, and which
resulted in the building up of one of the most influential churches
in the state. He then became the pastor of the first Baptist church
in Raleigh, North Carolina; and for seven years he was regarded as
one of the strongest preachers of that state. From there he
returned to West Virginia and preached for the Baptist churches at
Elizabeth and Spencer. He had much to do with the organization of
the General Association and served on its boards for many years, in
denominational affairs his counsel was invaluable, and his
influence was very great.

The remaining children of Henry T. Carter, with the exception of
Mardonius who died of scarlet fever when young, grew to maturity
and became influential citizens. Henry E. was a Baptist minister
but less renowned than his brother John. Mary married Herbert
Phillips who later lost his life in the Civil War. Afterwards she
married Rev. George E. Brown and lived many years in Buckhannon,
but at Mr. Brown's death she went with her son Jerome to
Parkersburg, where she died a few years ago. Addison, after being
twice severely wounded In the Civil War, died some twenty years ago
at Tallmansville, where he had a large farm and where he had reared
a large family of much influence. Martha married William Moore of
Holly Grove, and has also passed away. Page removed with his family
to Oklahoma a good many years ago, where he died in the spring of
1924. Eliza, Lena, and Delia are still living (1923) and reside in
Parkersburg.

THE NORVELL FAMILY

Another family which came at an early date was the Norvell
family. The father's name was Seneca. He and his good wife were
among the good, splendid citizens of the community. For years he
was Postmaster. He was also clerk of the Sago Baptist church for
years,- a position which his granddaughter Lina has filled these
later years.

Seneca Norvell's children were Abner, Susan, and Sophronia.
Abner lived in Sago till he died in a ripe old age, and was a fine,
honest, upright man. He married Ellen Bean, and his children are
Edgar, Roena, Warren, Anna, Burnham, and Willis, who are well-known
as fine citizens of the county.

The Thorp Family

Another man who had much to do with the religious and moral
standing of Sago was Major Thorp. He came from Connecticut at an
early time and married Lydia Morgan, daughter of Joshua Morgan.
They settled on what was called the French Creek road. He was also
a deacon of the Sago Baptist church and superintendent of the
Sunday school, always faithful to his duty. Two of his children
died early in youth. Charles M. B., Belle, Martha, and Hattie grew
to matured life and became useful members of society. Charles
married Polina Grose and settled on a part of the home farm where
he reared three children from this marriage. He died in the winter
of 1924. Martha and Hattie are both living at this date (fall of
1925). Martha married Dr. C. G. McKinley, and Hattie married
Sherman Brady.

The Abram Cutright Family

Situated on the hill just west of the Burner home was a farm
owned by Abram Cutright. He built himself a house and married a
Miss Wetherholtz. He was a large fleshy man; and he was
industrious, and respected by all his neighbors. His children were
Sally, Minerva, Calvin, and Granville. Sally was afflicted with
epilepsy and died a tragic death at a spring on the hillside above
the Burner home. She was found with her face in the water. Minerva
married Asbury Cutright and was the mother of Doctor Dennis
Cutright. Calvin married a daughter of Nathaniel Cutright.
Granville married Miss Jane Beer, one among the good women of this
earth; They reared four sons, whose names are Lyman, Ralph Greely,
Frank, and Delos. Lyman was a lawyer by preparation, and was killed
at the meridian of life by lightning on June 24, 1910. Ralph Greely
is a successful physician at Rock Cave, West Virginia. Frank is
professor of Botany and Zoology in the Concord State Normal College
at Athens, West Virginia. Delos is an efficient clerk at Berlin,
Maryland.

The John Beer Family

Just a little while before the Civil War John Beer of
Pennsylvania bought his family into the neighborhood of Sago. He
first settled at the mouth of Truby's Run and operated a sawmill.
Later he purchased the farm on the east side of the river from the
Cornelius Clark farm. His children did not all come with him, but,
after the Civil War, his son Solomon came with his family. Those
who came with him were Reuben, Jane, George, John, Esther, and
Mary. His wife was a splendid woman and anxiously trained her
children. The family added much to the welfare of the community,-
in school, in church, and in social life. Reuben served in Company
E of the 3rd West Virginia Infantry (afterwards the 6th Cavalry).
He married Nancy Boggess and went to Pennsylvania to live, George
served in the Union army and taught school for half a century in
Upshur County. He is the father of Dr. O. B. Beer of Buckhannon, a
well-known surgeon in West Virginia. Jane married Granville
Cutright, and Mary has spent most of her life in the far West.

Mr. John Beer was married twice. For his last wife he married
Barbara Casto, and from this marriage there was reared a large
family of boys and girls who have become useful citizens in the
county. Barbara, his second wife, was known by all as Aunt Barbara.
She was a very hard-working woman, noted for her quickness to
anger, but was much honored for her willingness to help her
neighbors in case of sickness.

The Elbon Farm

The farm known as the Elbon farm was first settled by James
Tenney, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Later it was sold to a
Mr. Boyles, who was the father of Dunk and Frank Boyles. About 1860
Mr. Granville Marple bought this farm and lived there for several
years. Then he sold the farm and bought another on Grassy Run,
which is now owned by Roy Carter. For years this farm was owned by
Mr. John Elbon, a well known mechanic. After his death it is still
owned by his family, and the report has it that his son Earl is now
the possessor, having bought out the rights of the other heirs. On
this farm is an old graveyard where many of the old pioneers of
Sago and nearby communities are buried.

The James Bryan Family

Another family which came to Sago before the Civil War was the
James Bryan family. First they lived in the old Alfred Morgan house
at the upper ford. Then Mr. Bryan bought land on the east side of
the river south of the Elbon farm and built a home. One of his
daughters married Nicholas Ours; another, Meerbach Ours. One
married David Tenney, and the youngest, Dolly, married John Moss.
The three boys, Henry, William, and Elmore, served in the Union
army.

Other Families in Sago Worthy of Mention

In the early days a family by the name of McCracken lived for a
time where John F. Burner now has a fine home.

A family named Childers also lived in the Sago community in the
early period.

Captain Ferrell, father of Mortiner, Robert, and Skidd Ferrell,
lived in Sago for a while during its early period and had a
blacksmith shop near the run just above the Burner home.

After Cornelius Clark left the community there lived for a while
in the vacant house David Bosley. He was the miller, the carder of
wool, and the shoemaker. He was a jolly fellow, and his shop was a
resort for many at night where he told some marvelous tales.

The widow Casto lived on the road to Indian Camp and had a large
family of children. There were three boys, Simon, Henry, and
Elmore, and four girls. One daughter married George Hoover;
another, a brother of Mr. Hoover; another, a Mr. Huffman of Indian
Camp; and Barbara became the second wife of Mr. John Beer. Mrs.
Casto was a tall and stately woman. She and her daughters were
great workers.

Northward joining the George Clark farm Mr. William Casto owned
land. Mr. Casto, commonly known as Bill Casto, was a unique
character. He had married a Miss Westfall, of a prominent family in
the county. Mr. Casto was not a hard worker; he sought pleasure in
the sports of his day. His children attended the Sago schools. He
was the owner of several hound dogs and delighted to get a group of
the boys of the neighborhood to go fox-hunting with him. The baying
of the dogs was sweet music to him.

The Chipps family, the Clark Cutright family, the Samuel Bowyer
family, and the Isaac Wamsley family lived a short time in Sago
during the early period. Isaac Wamsley built a house near the mouth
of Truby's Run, which was burned in later years.

Dee Tenney lived a while in the John Beer house. A Rev. Mr.
Betts resided for some time in the Bunten house; and a Rev. Mr.
Sisk lived for a short time in the old Morgan house. Both ministers
were pastors for the Methodist denominations near Sago.

A family named Colyers lived on the Thorp farm for a short
period of time, perhaps two or three years. One of the children was
killed by the bite of a copperhead.

Just after the close of the Civil War the Grose family came to
live in the old Morgan house, but John A. soon bought land on the
French Creek road from Benjamin Gould and built a home there. This
family of four girls and two boys added much to the social welfare
of the community.

Another large family of young people lived at the close of the
Civil War in the George Clark house. (The Clarks had gone to
Buckhannon to live.) This was the Elbridge Burr family. The father
was known as Little Elbridge to distinguish him from Elbridge G.
Burr, who lived where Adrian is now situated. There were William
and Benton who had reached home from the Union army, three younger
boys and four girls. One of the daughters married Gabriel Bean of
Indian Camp; another, Luke Bosley, also of Indian Camp. Joseph, the
youngest son, spent most of his life in West Virginia. He traveled
about a good deal from one county to another; he also lived for
short periods of time in several states. He died in the winter of
1924 at Buckhannon having reached a fairly ripe old age.

The William Kiddy family came to Sago in 1866. Mr. Kiddy had,
before this time, lived a while at Buckhannon and then for a short
time on Grand Camp, on the farm how known as the Cal Brady farm.
His wife was Hannah Krush. Their children were James, John, George,
William, Joseph, Fannie, and Krissie. This family has been of great
importance to the welfare of the Sago community. James and William
made their homes in Sago.

Another family that has added much to the betterment of Sago is
the Nicholas Ours Family. Mr. Nicholas Ours came to Sago in 1837
and settled on the farm now owned by Lincoln Tenney. Mr. Ours was
married twice. The children of his first marriage were Levi and
Margaret and those by his last wife (Avis Tenney) were Nicholas;
Meerbach, Hazzledon, and Julian.

The James Tenney Family

Mr. James Tenney, the paternal ancestor of the large and
numerous family of that name in Upshur County, was a native of
Massachusetts. He had three brothers who emigrated to the different
sections of New England. He came to Virginia about 1806 and finally
located on what is now known as the Elbon farm about 1820. His wife
was Thankful Shippy of Rhode Island. Their children were James,
Samuel, Josiah, Peter, Elisha, John, Reuben, Clara, Avis, Mary,
Thankful, and Philo. Mr. Tenney owned a large tract of land,
perhaps more than a thousand acres, around and east of the Elbon
Hill. From this large family of boys one can readily see why there
are so many Tenneys in Upshur County. These descendents have
contributed materially to the social, educational, and economic
development of Upshur County.

The Elbridge G. Burr Family

This family was so closely connected with Sago that it should be
mentioned as a part of Sago. Mr. Burr owned in his day the whole
section of what is now known as the town of Adrian. He was a very
prosperous farmer. He and all his family were known as very
industrious people. The daughters, Melvina, Ada, and Minnie and
also a son, John Ezra, were members of the Sago Baptist church and
regular attendants of the Sunday school. For a time the church was
largely dependent on this family for its singing. The family was
one of intelligence and education.

John Ezra was the strongest light in this family. He entered the
Union army and was severely wounded. He was discharged on account
of his wound; and, as soon as he was able, he turned his attention
towards getting an education. He prepared for college at
Waterville, Maine; then he entered Brown University, Rhode Island,
where he was graduated. He then went to Newton Baptist Theological
Institute; and, after three years of study at this place, he was
ordained to the Baptist ministry. He was pastor of a Baptist church
at Fisherville, Maine, and then at West Medway, Massachusetts.
After ten years of service he became a victim of tuberculosis. He
had a desire to come to the old home in West Virginia to die; and,
accompanied by his wife and sister, Melvina, became as far as the
top of the Allegheny Mountains where he breathed his last in a
railroad train.

At Brown University he and Rev. L. B. Moore were roommates. The
other children of this family also took kindly to education. Ada
was a graduate of Young Ladies' Institute at Steubenville, Ohio.
She taught school in Upshur County. Minnie finished a course of
study at a school in Greenville, Ohio. Claude, a son, taught school
and spent some time at West Virginia University in the preparation
for civil engineering. Melvina did not attend school away from
home. She may have attended the French Creek Academy and
subscription schools near home. She was greatly handicapped by
nearsightedness. At the present time (fall of 1925) all the members
of this family are dead with the exception of Claude, who lives at
Buckhannon.

The Patrick Peebles Family

Tradition has it, that Patrick Peebles of Charlemont,
Massachusetts, made in 1800 a temporary settlement in the vicinity
of Sago. It states that he returned to Massachusetts the latter
part of the same year. He gave a glowing account of the Virginia
lands and induced as many of his neighbors as he could to come to
them. So he and Zedekiah Morgan came to Sago in 1801; and Mr.
Morgan, as it has been stated, made a permanent settlement. It
seems from tradition that Mr. Peebles was in and about the Sago
settlement for eight or nine years. It is not known how many, if
any, of his family came with him and Mr. Morgan. In 1810 he and Mr.
Morgan built a sawmill on what is now known as the Sawmill Run near
its mouth. It was a crude affair. A temporary gristmill was also
built with it. Shortly after their completion these mills were
destroyed by a flood. This disaster discouraged Mr. Peebles. So he
went back to Massachusetts and remained till 1819, when he returned
to this part of Virginia with his entire family and settled on the
waters of French Creek, near the site of what is now known as the
village of French Creek.

Mr. Peebles had several children. James Peebles, his son, lived
with the late Harrison Wingrove who had married his sister. This
James Peebles was noted for the fact, that in 1849 he went to
California in search of gold. The late Mrs. Jane Sexton was another
daughter. She was the mother of Mrs. Ashley Gould, Mrs. Garland
Ferrell, James, and Jane Sexton.

Perhaps it is important to remember that Patrick Peebles and the
Goulds all came from Charlemont, Massachusetts.

The Truby's Run Section

The people of Truby's Run have always identified themselves with
the people of Sago. They attend church and Sunday school at Sago,
and have always claimed Sago as their Post Office.

The Henry Wilfong family settled on the waters of Truby's Run
before the Civil War. In this family were several children; namely,
George, Samuel Henry, John, Daniel, Columbus, Bilda, Phillip,
Abraham, Mary Elizabeth, Loise, Tilda, and Loretta. Four of the
boys, George, Samuel Henry, John, and Daniel, served as soldiers in
the Civil War on the Union side. Samuel Henry lost his life in the
service of his country. The family is noted for its industry and
has added largely to the development of the Truby's Run
locality.

The Nelson Jones family lived in the Truby's Run vicinity before
the Civil War. Mrs. Jones was Martha Jane Hinkle. She is still
living, being about 96 years old (1925). Mr. Jones died shortly
after the Civil War. Mrs. Jones was left with four small children.
She was a heroine from the standpoint of work. She and her children
cleared out from 75 to 100 acres of land. Her children are Sarah
Ellen, Cora, Emma, and John. John lives on the old home place and
is noted for his thrift and good citizenship.

The James Black family is another prominent family of this
section. Mr. Black settled here before the Civil War. His children
were Alex, Lorenzo, Abraham, Olive, Bettie, Mary, Mart, and Sarah.
Lorenzo and Mart were in the Union army. Mart was killed at
Buckhannon. It is said that, after he had been laid out for dead,
he rose and walked across the room. The descendents of this family
are many; and a good many of them live in their paternal locality
and are noted for hard work and thrift.

Isaac Cutright was an early settler. He was the father of
Thanner Cutright, of Alton.

As it has been once stated Isaac Wamsley was an early settler.
His sons were Noah B., Charles, Luther, and Albert. Noah B. was a
fine penman. All the sons are now dead.

During the Civil War Peter Tenney lived a mile and a half east
of Sago. He had several children; namely, Peter J., Josiah,
Jonathan, John C., Ezra, Rufus, William, Sandusky, Sarah C.,
Labana, and Mrs. G. N. Zickefoose.

John L. Boggess married a Miss Boyles and lived on the road that
leads to Mount Washington church. His children were Thomas Haymond,
Celia (wife of Eliza Stansbury), Nancy (wife of Reuben Beer), and
Mollie (wife of I. M. Bennett). Mr. Boggess came from Marion
County. His father was Colonel Boggess, a man of distinguished
note.

Enoch Westfall, a son of George Westfall and a brother of Martin
Westfall and a number of others, came to Truby's Run about 1880. He
had two children, Preston and Lummie. His ancestors were among the
earliest settlers in Upshur County. Preston married a sister of
John Jones and lived for several years on Truby's Run; then he sold
his farm and went to Ohio to live and there he has resided ever
since. Lummie married John Jones and has always lived in the old
home section.

James Dean was an early settler on Truby's Run. His sons were
Harrison, Clinton, Marion, and Granville.

Christian Simons was also an early settler in this section. The
writer is under the impression that James and Job Simons were his
sons.

The Quick Tragedy

Some time after the Civil War the Isaac Wamsley house burned at
night. John Quick and his family lived there then. Mr. Quick was
not at home that night. Mrs. Quick, her two children, and two
children of a neighbor by the name of Kimbrew were burned to death.
Their remains were found in the position of the beds; and the
remains of all five were buried in one grave in the Elbon
Cemetery.

The Rebels made a small number of raids in the Truby's Run
section and through the heart of Sago. They stole horses and
foodstuffs, but perhaps their main object was to capture Union
soldiers, strong Union sympathizers, and deserters. Lack of space
forbids the telling of many of the various experiences that the
citizens had with them. It is said that they were about to shoot
Mr. Abner Norvell; but the writer does not recall on what
provocation. Here is a very interesting incident. Two Rebel
deserters came to the home of Granville Marple one evening when Mr.
Marple was away from home. Mrs. Marple, her children, and a Miss
Cutright (daughter of Isaac Cutright) were the only people at the
Marple home. Mrs. Marple kept them over night. The next morning she
sent them to one of her neighbors, Mr. James Black. A day or so
later during a Rebel raid one of these deserters was in the house
at Black's when some one chanced to look outdoors, and just at the
yard fence was a squad of Rebel cavalrymen coming in. There was no
time to leave the house. Mrs. Black, known as Aunt Sally, suggested
that this deserter get in bed, which he did, and she put on the
feather bed and made up the bed, covering him up head and heels.
The Rebels came into the room but did not discover him.

Another interesting episode connected with the Rebel raiders is
this. About the same time that Mrs. Black had her unique experience
with the deserter, Mr. Elmore Cutright, father of Big Gran, came to
Mr. Marple's home on his way to hide in the woods from them. He
asked for a piece of bacon, which was gratefully given him. He had
a pone of bread under his arm; and just as he started down the hill
towards James Bryan's a rebel squad of cavalry came on the top
ridge towards Black's, about one-fourth mile away. They saw him
running and fired at him. Mr. Cutright ran with all his might and
made tracks. They did not chase him far. Mr. A. G. Marple, who was
a boy at that time, was an eye-witness of this event.

The Sago Baptist Church

This church was founded in 1856. Its founders were Lucy T.
Henderson, Hester M. Summerville, Henry T. Carter, Martha Carter,
Major Thorp, Lydia Thorp, and Roxana F. Burner.

This church has wielded a large influence in the lives of the
Sago people. It has never been large in numbers but has stood
faithfully for the best things in life; and only eternity can tell
the influence it has exerted.

Among the noble men who were its pastors were Aaron Barnett,
Reuben Kemper, Henry Langford, Mr. Fisher, George E. Brown, Lloyd
Holden, J. A. J. Lightburn, and G. G. Laughlin. There were others
of note, but lack of space forbids the mentioning of their
names.

Soon after its establishment a Sunday School was organized, to
which the young as well as the old went. Not much was done for a
time except to read the Scriptures and commit verses to memory.
Some of the young people would, in competition, commit long
passages of Scripture; for example, L. B. Moore and John Carter. On
one occasion L. B. Moore had committed two chapters in Mathew, and
it took him so long to recite them, that no one else had a chance,
and consequently he was pronounced the winner.

The church sent out as ministers, John W. Carter, L. B. Moore,
and Henry E. Carter. John W. Carter was the first to go. It was a
high honor for any church or community to send forth such a man.
Later L. B. Moore and Henry E. Carter were ordained at the same
time. The career of L. B. Moore and that of John W. Carter have
been given. Unfortunately Henry E. Carter had received a poor
education. He had not improved the time as his brother John had;
and, coming into the ministry after he had married and had got
quite a family of children, he could not devote the necessary time
to study and preparation. He was in a sense eloquent; and many
thought him to be a strong preacher. He remained for some five or
six years in the community, preaching to the various Baptist
churches near Sago. Later he went to North Carolina and then to
Virginia. It was reported that he died at Lynchburg, Virginia.

Another man who went out as a minister from the Sago church was
Richard Wood. He was a member of the church at the close of the
Civil War. He had a desire to preach, and he let it be know to some
of the influential members, but, after a careful consideration, the
church decided to postpone his ordination for some time, on account
of his lack in qualifications. But, in the meantime, he was invited
to come into the ministry of the United Brethren church, and the
offer was accepted. He preached for many years for this
denomination and made a very acceptable minister of the Gospel.

It is worth noting that the Sago Baptists held services in the
old log schoolhouse from 1856 to 1873. This building stood on the
river bank just below W. W. Burner's present residence, at the
chestnut tree. In 1873 the first framed churchhouse was built. This
building is now used as a barn by W. W. Burner. The present
church-building was erected in 1893. It is located at the foot of
the hill on the road that leads to Gould.

The Early Educational Status of Sago

Before the Civil War Mrs. George Clark (nee Ann Bunten) was by
far the most noted and best teacher. She taught in the front room
of the Clark house above the Bunten Mills. This school was in
session for many winters. Each parent had to pay a fixed amount for
each child who went to school. The New England people were used to
having schools in old homes and were glad to pay, so that their
children might be taught. Their example inspired the whole
neighborhood, and the school was popular. Besides being a fine
teacher, Mrs. Clark knew how to awaken a desire in her pupils for
an education. Pupils came from the adjoining communities to her
school. One of the features cultivated was an exhibition at the
close of each term. A stage was built across the end of the little
old Baptist church; and these exhibitions drew crowded houses.
Among the young people who attended her school were John W. Carter,
John Ezra and Ada Burr, Simon Strader and sisters, Nancy and Mary
Boggess, Delilah Boyles, Granville Cutright, Harriet and Sirene
Bunten, James, Lorenzo, and Oscar Moore, Jane, George, and Esther
Beer, Ambrose, Lyman, James, and Lusannah Clark, Roxana Morgan,
Seymour Simons, the Pringle boys, Crites, and Thrashers.

Other schools were taught by different persons in the community
before the days of the Free School System. Mrs. Sarah Ann Moore
held summer schools at her old home. Roxana Morgan conducted school
at the Morgan home. Martha Wiloby and Sirene Bunten taught terms at
the little old church. At the latter place George Clark and Eli
Westfall taught winter schools. One winter Isaac Wamsley taught at
the mouth of Truby's Run at his home.

Two diversions of the neighborhood were the spelling schools and
debates. Spelling was cultivated in those days. John W. Carter was
the champion speller. Often he would spell down long rows of
contestants. Mrs. George Moore, her daughters, May and Belle, Lena,
Delia, and Eliza Carter, and Hattie Bunten were also excellent
spellers. The debates were, for a time, quite popular, and people
came from the adjoining neighborhoods to hear and assist. In this
way a number of the boys first learned to think on their feet and
before people.

The Sago Warriors

Sago is noted for two of its settlers being in the Revolutionary
War, Zedekiah Morgan and James Tenney. Mr. Tenney is the James
Tenney who first settled on what is now known as the Elbon farm.
There is no available record of Mr. Tenney's experiences in this
war. Mr. Morgan served as Master of Transportation, and there is in
the Archives of Connecticut an account of his services.

In the Mexican War of 1848-49 Mr. Seneca Norvell served as a
soldier; and Mr. George Moore enlisted, but the war closed before
he had the opportunity to see service.

The community of Sago when the Civil War approached was found to
be intensely loyal. All its families stood for the Union. George
Clark for years was an ardent abolitionist and took the New York
Tribune. He circulated it all over the neighborhood. The influence
was great. John Carter read it and was all aflame for the freedom
of the slaves. Mr. George Moore was a democrat, but voted for
Stephen A. Douglass, and when the war came on followed his leader
as a strong advocate of the Union. It has always been a matter of
some surprise that the Carters, Norvells, Bryans, and George W.
Burner stood so strongly for the Union. All had come, or their
ancestors, from East Virginia; and most people who came from there
were in sympathy with the South. It was a great blessing to Sago
that there was a union of sentiment, as it kept down strife and
discord. This condition of things prepared the way for the young
men of the community to volunteer in the United States army when
the call came.

It is difficult to get a complete record of all the Sago boys
who served in the Civil War. But the following lists include
perhaps about all of them who lived within two miles of the Sago
post office.

The first company recruited in Upshur County for the Union army
was Company E of the 3rd Virginia infantry. It was made up in l861.
At that time there was no West Virginia. This company was
afterwards mounted and called the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry. In
it were Andrew and Henry Bryan, Simon and Elmore Casto, David and
George Thrasher, Benjamin and Isaac Tenney, Reuben D. Beer,
Granville Cutright, Samuel H. Wilfong, Henry C. Boggess, Andrew
Black, Marshall Gould, J. E. Montgomery, and Walter and Burnham
Bunten.

The Upshur Battery was recruited in 1862. In this group of
soldiers the following Sago boys were numbered; namely, George W.
Burner, Duncan, Frank, and Michael Boyles, John Haney, Peter,
Jonathan, and Josiah Tenney, Wm. F. Bryan, Wm. H. Bowyer, Nicholas
and Meerbach Ours, Abraham Rollins, William Burr, Clayton Cutright,
Aaron Strader, and Seymore Simons.

In Company B of the 10th West Virginia Infantry, recruited in
1862, were Thomas A. and Henry E. Carter, James L. and Lorenzo B.
Moore, Richard and Alexander Wood, and John A. Grose, who came to
Sago to live at the end of the war.

Company M of the Third West Virginia Cavalry was recruited in
1864. The Sago boys that enlisted in this company were John Ezra
and Benton Burr, Charles Farrow, George Beer, Martin and Lorenzo D.
Black, and Oscar L. Moore.

George Wilfong was also a Union soldier and belonged to Company
D and B of the 10th West Virginia Infantry. William W. Woods, who
was reared in the home of G. W. Burner, enlisted in a Maryland
regiment. John and Daniel Wilfong were also soldiers of the Union,
but we failed to locate them in their respective companies,

It is remarkable that only one Sago boy joined the Confederate
army, and this was Isaac Thrasher. He was induced to go South while
he was working in Barbour County; for there the sentiment for the
South was rather strong. Without a doubt, had he remained at Sago
he would have joined the Union army as his brothers did. Perhaps no
other community can be found where sentiment was unanimous for the
Union, and where so many young men joined the Union army.

In the great World War several Sago boys were taken into
service. The following list includes those that were taken to the
training camps; namely, Mason Cutright, Frank Ours, Ralph Kiddy,
Forest Beer, Dorphy Black, Clifton Alestock, and Lloyd Waugh. Mr.
Waugh and Mr. Alestock were the only ones sent to France. Mr. Waugh
was in the first line of battle for about seventy days, and took
part in the great battles of Argonne Forest. Mr. Alestock was in
the second line of battle one day and night (in the Argonne
Forest). Mr. Cutright was not long in a training camp, but rendered
service to his country by cutting timber in the far West. Mr Ours
did special service at Washington, D. C.

Sago has turned out several college graduates; namely, John Ezra
Burr (Brown University), Lyman Clark (a college in New England), C.
J. C. Bennett (Leland Stanford and Columbia), Frank Marple (Ohio
Wesleyan), Frank Cutright (West Virginia University and Columbia),
E.R. and S.C. Grose (West Virginia University). Others who attended
college for some time but did not graduate are L. B. and Oscar
Moore, John W. Carter, Claude, Ada, and Minnie Burr, Lura and Leda
Kiddy, and Mrs. E. R. Grose. C. J. C. Bennett was the greatest
scholar of the community; he had his doctorate degree from
Columbia. Frank Cutright has his master's degree from Columbia; and
E. R. Grose, his master's degree from West Virginia University. The
other graduates have only their bachelor's degrees.

The Sago people that have finished normal courses are E. R. and
S. C. Grose, Frank Cutright, Lura and Leda Kiddy, and Mrs. E. R.
Grose.

Sago has furnished three teachers for the State Normal Schools;
namely, C. J. C. Bennett, Frank Cutright, and E. R. Grose. Mr.
Bennett was President of the Fairmont State Normal for several
years. Two city superintendents came from Sago; and they are Frank
Cutright and S. C. Grose.

At present (fall of 1925) there must be about a dozen boys and
girls of Sago, attending the high schools. Among them are Arah
King, Charles Burner, Mary Ours, Carl Grose, Gladys Casto, and
Bernice Tenney.

Ministers of the Gospel

Sago has furnished the following preachers; namely, John Ezra
Burr, John W. and Henry Carter, and L. B. Moore, all of the Baptist
church, Lyman Clark of the Unitarian church, Frank Marple of the M.
E. church, Dow Bryan of the M. P. church, and Richard Wood of the
United Brethren church. The careers of these ministers except that
of Dow Bryan have been mentioned. The Reverend Bryan has spent the
greater portion of his ministry in Virginia. He is a strong
preacher, regardless of the fact of his very poor opportunities for
an education for the ministry.

Medical Profession

Sago has really produced but one physician, and that is Ralph
Cutright, who was for years located at Rock Cave but now at
Tennerton. Dr. Burton at one time owned the farm, now known as the
Elbon farm, but no one now remembers whether he lived there or not.
Dr. Lincoln Ours and Dr. Bronson lived near Sago and rendered good
service.

Law Profession

Four of Sago's boys have become lawyers; namely, O. L. Moore,
Will Carter, Lyman Cutright, and J. C. Carter. Of these O. L. Moore
made a great record, which has already been mentioned.

The following persons have studied telegraphy: Harold Burner,
Lowell Elbon, Ralph Kiddy, and Dode Casto. Sago has furnished two
locomotive engineers, Tom Wilson and Earl Elbon. Will Ours is
Sago's radio expert. Several millwrights were citizens of Sago;
namely, John Elbon, Patrick Peebles, and Zedekiah Morgan. Mr. Obe
Elbon, who died in early manhood, was a very promising
mechanic.

Sago has produced several carpenters; namely, Abner Norvell and
sons, Edgar, Warren, and Burnham, John Elbon and son, Obe, Dave
Reed, Lomon Casto, and William Crites.

Sago community is noted for the following bookkeepers: Delos
Cutright, H. F. and Parley Ours, J. C. Carter, and Willis Norvell.
John Sharps is Sago' s inventor. Some of the Sago girls taught
music in private families, and the following may be listed: Claudia
Burner, Martha Thorp, and two or three of the Carter girls. Mr.
John A. Burner was a noted singing master. Major Thorp, his son
Charles, his grandson Willis, and Benjamin Tenney are the stone
masons of Sago.

How Sago Was Named

No one seems to know definitely how Sago received its name. It
is said that it was named in this way. Mr. Alfred Morgan was
appointed postmaster of the settlement. He was puzzled over what to
call the community. So the story goes that he asked a Mr. White, a
cattle man, to suggest a name; and he introduced the name "Sago".
No one now knows why he offered this name.

Enterprises of Sago not Mentioned Before

The Tenney Mill was constructed in 1867 by John N. Tenney. In
its day this mill was greatly patronized. It had different owners,
one of whom was Calvin C. Gould, the author of a small book, "Who
Were the Mound Builders?"

The Ours gristmill was built by Nicholas Ours, Jr. in 1893. This
is one of the finest mills in the county, and renders great service
to many farmers.

A Mr. Chipps built a gristmill on Truby's Run in the early
period of Sago, but this mill was not long in operation, and
consequently did not accomplish much.

The Terrell oil well was drilled by the Terrell Brothers of
Pennsylvania about 1863. No one now knows how deep the well was
drilled. A complete test was not made, for the promoters ran short
on funds.

Waitman Linger built a handle factory about 1906 and operated it
for five or six years.

Sometime in the 80's Mr. Major Thorp began the manufacture of
tobacco, with the assistance of a Mr. Messenger. However, this
enterprise was short-lived, and no gain was acquired.

Mr. W. W. Burner operated a sawmill for five or six years in the
90's, near the present site of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
station and depot.

The Buckhannon tramroad was built some time in the 80's, and was
in operation for about ten years. It extended from Buckhannon up to
Alton.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed about 1890, and
the Coal and Coke was built in 1903, 04, and 05.

A stave mill was in operation for about three years on the Peter
Engle farm some time in the 90's. It was owned by a Pennsylvania
company.

The Smoot and Berthy sawmill manufactured lots of fine lumber
for five or six years, in the latter part of the 90's. It was
located near the mouth of Sawmill Run, on the Engle farm,.

Cal Fletcher operated a sawmill on the Thorp Run for two or
three years in the later 80's, and sawed Major Thorp's timber.

The Stockert Brothers had a sawmill on Sawmill Run, where
Estridge Alestock's residence is now located, during the years
between 1885 and 1890, and sawed the fine poplar timber that stood
on the large tract of land, owned by the Price Brothers of
Pennsylvania.

Other sawmills have operated for short periods of time in recent
years; namely, those of Roy Phillips, Phillips Brothers, and John
Elbon.

The George Burner No. 1 (58) well was drilled by the Citizens
Natural Gas Company, on the site where the Elbon residence is now
located, some time about 1902 or 1903. It was abandoned as a dry
hole, having made a show of gas in the Fourth Sand, at the depth of
2211 feet.

During the last two years of the World War four coal mines were
in operation, and gave employment to twenty men or more, at
different times.

Other Important Bits of History

The first jeweler in the county was Samuel Meerbach, who came to
Sago vicinity, direct from London in the 20's, and lived as a
hermit on the waters of French Creek, on the farm now known as the
Jacob Lewis farm. There is some .tradition about Meerbach. One
report says that he had a good deal of money and that he was
murdered for it. But be it as it may, his death was always a
mystery to his friends; and no one yet has found his treasure. Some
still claim that there is a hidden fortune of gold and silver at
the place where this man dwelt; and a few men have searched for it
in vain.

A rousing temperance society was organized at Sago while L. B.
Moore was teaching there. It lived a good number of years, and was
a prominent factor in the education of the community. It was
brought about on account of some drunkenness from the use of hard
cider.

For years many of the older Sago people held in memory many
pleasant events that had their setting in connection with the old
log church, which was also the old log schoolhouse. The writer
shall relate one of the school events. Rev. John Carter taught
school there one winter. It was customary in those primitive days
to demand a treat of some kind at Christmas from the teacher; and
upon the refusal to treat, if the teacher were a man, he was taken
to the river and given a good ducking, even though it were
necessary to cut a hole in the ice. John refused to treat; and, on
the day before Christmas, the bad boys indicated their purpose of
taking him to the river. He immediately showed fight and soon got
away from them; he jumped over the fence above the road and made
for the top of the hill. The boys strung after him. He outdistanced
them, and reached the woods and was soon out of sight. Becoming
tired of chasing him, they came back down to the schoolhouse.
>From the smiles of the girls they suspected that he had reached
the schoolhouse before they had arrived. So they immediately began
a thorough search; and the mill was one of the places hunted over
by them. After a few minutes of search there they found him
concealed in a sack of wool under the carding machines. He at once
surrendered to them, and told them that he would bring a sack of
apples next morning. This he did, and all were happy over this
incident.

This story is taken from the notes of O. L. Moore. Mr. Moore was
a pupil at this time; but he was too young to take part in the
chase.

Superstition and belief in witchcraft existed to some extent in
Sago during its early development; but most of the pioneers were
pretty well educated for their day; and this explains why these two
primitive drawbacks were of no consequence. A variant of the story
of the headless horseman was known by some of the old settlers.
Uncle Billy Casto used to tell that this headless character dwelt
somewhere along the ridge that runs from the Granville Cutright
farm to the Clint Jack farm. He claimed that he had seen this ghost
more than once; and also he told that Granville Cutright saw this
spook one time and that it threw its saddle at him and then ran
away.

Sago is noted for her men of wit. Mr. Abner Norvell and the
Cutright brothers, Clayton, Leonard, and Judson, were well known in
recent years as whetstones of wit. There were perhaps others before
their day. All are dead now except Judson Cutright. Any place had
its entertainment when one of those men was present. If they all
had engaged in a wit contest, no one could easily have decided upon
the victor.

Mr. William Bean, a brother of Mrs. Abner Norvell, had charge
for some time of the carding machines when they were in the Bunten
Mills and after they were moved to the G. W. Burner Mill. Mr. Bean
was skillful in carding wool; he was also noted for his brilliant
mind.

The Last Word

Sago has an excellent early history,- a heritage, of which the
present generation should be proud, and for which it should be
grateful. It is very incumbent on the boys and girls of the present
generation to appreciate this heritage and to carry on the
upbuilding of Sago in the same spirit and effective way as did
their foreparents, so that the next generation will receive an
inheritance greater than the one that they have received.